In June 2013, Uttarakhand saw an extraordinary rainfall of 375% more than the typical amount, causing intense weather that melted parts of the Chorabari Glacier. This led to the sudden rise of its basal lake by 7 meters (23 feet), which burst through its barrier, flooding downstream areas. The resulting deluge claimed over 6,000 lives, devastated villages, and left 300,000 pilgrims stranded at the Himalayas.
Today, Chorabari Lake is mostly dry, but it remains one of many glacial lakes in the Himalayas, where 10% of them have expanded due to human-driven climate change, escalating the risk of similar floods. Research highlights that nearly 1,600 glacial lakes in northwestern India are increasingly at risk of these events.
Experts warn that as glaciers melt and lakes grow, the potential for destructive glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) increases. The most significant triggers for these floods are avalanches and extreme weather events. A study focusing on Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand identified that up to 10% of the land downstream from these lakes is vulnerable, putting millions at risk.
With rising temperatures, particularly in higher altitudes, glaciers are rapidly shrinking, further amplifying GLOF threats. Understanding the geography and population exposure to these hazards is essential for mitigating future disasters, especially in remote regions where populations are unprepared.
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